Composition of the intestinal microbiota during mid- to late pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Abstract Objective Determine the composition and characteristics of intestinal microbiota in GDM patients during mid- and late pregnancy, and identify possible differences in bacterial composition based on comparisons with a normal healthy population. Methods The participants were recruited at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, and stool samples were collected twice in the second and third trimesters, and were examined based on next-generation sequencing. Test results and pregnancy outcomes were recorded, and baseline conditions and intestinal microecological composition were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the healthy control group, the composition ratio of Bacteroides and Megamonas was significantly increased, whereas that of Bifidobacterium, Dialister, and Escherichia coli was significantly reduced. At the species level, the combination of Eubacterium hallii, Butyrate-producing Bacterium GM2.1, and Clostridium disporicum enabled an effective discrimination between the two groups (AUC = 93.64%, P < 0.05, 95% CI: 89.83–97.45%). Conclusion Compared with the healthy control group, we detected significant differences in the composition ratio of gut microbiota during late pregnancy in the gestational diabetes group, and also observed a reduction in bacterial diversity and an increase in microbial disorder.